Imperial Parliament

The Illustrated London News,
vol. 44,
no. 1262,
p. 542.

June 4, 1864

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

...HOUSE OF COMMONS.--Monday.

...The Steam-Rams.--The Attorney-General, in reply to a series of
questions relative to the arrangement in the case of the Mersey
steam-rams, gave an account of the negotiations which resulted in the
purchase of the two vessels. The purchase money is £220,000, or
£80,000 below the sum at first demanded by the person
represented to be the owner of the rams. The hon. and learned
gentleman contended that on the part of the Government there had been
no condonation of a violation of the law; and he did not consider that
the arrangement in this case would lead shipbuilders to construct
vessels of the class of El Toussain and El Monastir on the speculation
that the Government would buy the ships. He added that, under present
circumstances, her Majesty's Ministers did not deem it necessary to
propose an amendment to the Foreign Enlistment Act...

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--Tuesday.

...In reply to Mr. Hodgkinson, Lord C. Paget said he should have to
introduce a supplementary estimate to pay for the Mersey
steam-rams...

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--Wednesday.

The Steam-Rams.--The Attorney-General, in answer to a question,
stated that the Government had had no communication whatever with
Messrs. Laird respecting the purchase of the Mersey
steam-rams. M. Bravay, who represented himself to be the owner of the
vessels, was the person with whom the correspondence had been carried
on.